priyastandon

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Nav Varsh Abhinandan

The beautiful Spring season is here and the Chaitra Navratri shall follow soon. The new leaves, buds and flowers signify new life, new beginnings, prosperity and renewed hope! Our ancients calculated the new year from the auspicious Chaitra month. On 22 March, 1957, the Gregorian calendar was adopted for official purposes. 22 March, 2023 of the Gregorian calendar marks the beginning of the Vikrami Samvat 2080.

(The image above shows 12 Pictures of The Sun, Each Month, Same Place, Same Time. Photo by Ciro Russo)

Lord Brahma started creating the universe on the first day of the Chaitra Navratri. Jau (barley) was the first crop to be cultivated then. We sow Jau and grow Khetri in reverence of this crop and then offer it back to Mother Nature. King Vikramaditya was coronated King on this day. The Vikrami Samvat or the Hindu calendar is named after him.

Navratri literally means nine nights. These nights are symbolic of the darkness of ignorance. The purpose of celebrating Navratri is to enable humans to overcome this darkness. When we worship the Devi or the Mother Goddess, she is the unified form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. These three forms together form Shakti (power). This Shakti is the energy that is emanant in Nature and the Lord himself controls it. The ninth day of the Chaitra Navratri is Ram Navami. This marks the birthday and the coronation of Bhagwan Rama.

The feminine aspect of Divinity is worshipped in Navratri. Sri Sathya Sai Baba says that the word Stree is made up of- Sa, Ta and Ra. Sa signifies Sattvic, Ta signifies Tamasic and Ra signifies the Rajasic nature of women. Stree thus represents the combination of the three gunas. You can judge a house by the Greh-Lakhmi (lady of the house), she represents the ‘everything’ of the house. The Vedas declare that where women are honoured, there divinity is present with all its potency. We worship five kinds of mothers. Firstly, we worship the Deha-Mata. She is the one who bore us for nine months and gave us the gift of life. Secondly, we worship the Gau-Mata. The cow is given the exalted position of a mother because she sustains us by converting her blood into milk. Thirdly, we revere the Bhu-Mata or Mother Earth. She is the one, on whom we are dependant for everything like shelter, water, food etc. Fourthly, we revere the Desh-Mata. Our country gives us protection, rights and the support system of society. Indians are perhaps the only people who revere the country as Mother India. Fifthly, we revere the Veda-Mata. We revere the Vedas as our heritage and as spiritual treasures. They tell us the purpose of life and guide us on the path of self-realisation.

For those who are not spiritually inclined, I would say that Navaratri is a time to revere nature and offer thanksgiving for all that nature has bestowed us with. Resources like the Earth, air, water, minerals, oils etc. should not be wasted or misused. It is important to conserve the environment for the generations to come.

Scientifically speaking, the Chaitra Navratri is placed at the intersection of winter and summer. The body needs to detox at this time to adjust itself for the upcoming summer season. And that is exactly why Navratri fasting is recommended. You can have fruits and nuts along with one meal of alternate grains (no cereals like wheat, rice etc.). Navratri foods include Kuttu ka atta, Swaank ke chawal, Singhaare ka aata, etc. And you cook with Rock salt which is an excellent detoxifying agent. But remember that a fast is a fast, as long as you don’t convert it into a feast!

So let’s do Devi Pooja in Navratri and revere the Mother Goddess in her beautiful Nav-Durga form. And while doing Devi-Poojan and Kanya-Poojan, do extend the respect to all the living goddesses around you … your mother, wife, sister, daughter, daughter-in-law and just any girl out there! Happy Navratri!

(This piece has been published in the HT on 19.03.2023)

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It’s over to women now

Yeh toh bas shuruaat hai!

India stormed the cricketing world by launching the IPL in 2007-08 on a T20 model. What was an experiment of sorts became a success story. In January ’23, India scripted history by winning the Women’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Cricket is a religion that every little boy of India follows. The movies Lagaan, 83, MS Dhoni - The Untold Story, etc. are proof enough.

I witnessed the launch of the Women's Premier League at Mumbai on 4 March. What has been a boy’s game, in every gali, mohalla, nukkad etc. of India, has been taken by storm by the fairer sex! And what a launch!

Girl Power was evident right from the entry gate. The security was being womaned (not manned) by energetic young girls. They looked elated as they welcomed and wrist-banded us at the South Pavilion Lounge of the Stadium. Girls dressed in four colours graced the pitch for the inaugural ceremony. Kiara Advani gave a scintillating performance, followed by Kriti Sanon. A stream of girls escorted in, the singer AP Dhillon. It is one thing to say that girls should get their due share, but it’s another thing to make it real. This is really walking the talk!

BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, along with wife and daughter, beamed with pride as his dream project kick-started with a fireworks display, cheering, dancing and loads of excitement.

The Gujarat Giants won the toss and chose to bowl. The Mumbai Indians ruled the pitch and batted magic! Punjab girl Harmanpreet of Mumbai Indians hit 14 fours and garnered an impressive 65 runs off 30 balls. The Mumbai Indians won by 143 runs.  

I may not understand cricket too much, but am impressed by the grit to create this gigantic platform for young lady aspirants to showcase their skill and passion for the game. Not only that; this would bring opportunities for women coaches, selectors, physiotherapists, managers, yoga instructors, dieticians to name a few.

Coordinating the humungous infra and commitment to pull off an endeavour of this stature is no mean feat. In an era where AI is replacing humans in more ways than one and we fear the dearth of job opportunities, here is something that is creating jobs galore and providing entertainment for many more.

Youngsters who indulge in smoking up or drug abuse are those who are disillusioned, directionless or misguided. Sports gives direction to the energy and passion of many young adults. Everyone may not become a cricketer but there are many who would find livelihood in this new world.

As these thoughts reeled through my head, Harmanpreet hit yet another four; the band played the WPL Anthem, ‘Yeh toh bas shuruaat hai!’, and the crowd went into a frenzy!

What a gift to young eves on the eve of Women’s Day! Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, “Life is a game, Play it. Life is a dream, Realise it!”

And why not? Way to go girls! Looking forward to many more!

[priyastandon]

Holi Hai!

Holi, the festival of colours is coming up on March 8, 2023. This festival can be as spiritual and sublime or as rowdy and crazy as you want it to be.

(The painting above is my work from 2006.)

The festival dates back to the time of Radha and Krishna. Radha being fair complexioned, Krishna’s mother said that Radha would not agree to marry Krishna because he was dark skinned. Radha offered colours to Krishna saying that He could colour her in any hue He fancied! The famous bhajan, “Rang de chunariya He Giridhaari … apne hi rang mein, rang de Murari …” resonates the feelings of Radha and many a devout soul. The Holi of Vrindavan, Mathura and Barsaana (the village of Radha) is world famous.

My grandfather, a famous lawyer of Ferozepur, would always go to Mathura and Vrindavan for Holi. He was called ‘Bansuri waale bauji’. He would sit in the temple for days and play the flute for Krishna, during the Holi festival. He would sing, dance and play Holi with the devotees there. He would return, dyed in yellow, green, pink … much to the dismay of my simpleton grandmother! Just as Dussehra celebrates the victory of good over Evil, Holi too celebrates the same. The demon king Hiranyakashayapu, proclaimed himself to be God and ordered that everyone worship him. Everyone followed suit, except his own son Prahlada. Prahalada worshipped Lord Vishnu, but this did not go down well with his father.

Legend has it that Holika, the sister of Hiranyakashayapu had a boon that fire would not harm her. She sat on a pyre holding Prahlada, assuming that Prahlada would be burnt away, while she would be unharmed. But Holika was burnt to ashes whereas Prahlada was unharmed! In rejoicing over the burning of Holika, people played with her ashes and flung handfuls of it into the air. This too became a part of the tradition of Holi!

Hiranyakashayapu had a boon from Lord Brahma that he would not die in the morning or at night, on the Earth or in the sky, inside or outside, by Astra or Shastra, by a human or an animal. One day, Hiranyakashayapu hit and broke a pillar in anger, asking Prahalada that if your Vishnu is omnipresent, where is He in this pillar? Lord Vishnu incarnated from within the pillar, in the form of Narasimha (half man- half lion) and sat in the doorway (neither inside, nor outside). It was dusk (neither day, nor night). He put Hiranyakashayapu across his thighs (neither on Earth, nor in the sky) and tore open his body with his nails/claws (neither astra, nor shastra). 

After the horrendous death of the evil Hiranyakashayapu, people across the kingdom danced, sang and distributed sweets out of sheer joy. The Indian calendar is punctuated with festivals like Holi, Dusshera etc. wherein there are subtle reminders to check the path we are treading and if required, make amends. Holi also heralds in the spring season which signifies new beginnings and transformations along with prayers for a bountiful harvest. Let’s pause here to reflect on the power of devotion. It was because of Prahlada's devotion and love for Lord Vishnu that He assumed the intimidating form of Narasimha and annihilated Hiranyakashayapu.

With every festival, comes its share of sweets and goodies. Around Holi, Ghevar, Gujiya, Phirni and Pakoras are the favourites. Most people play with colours and enjoy the goodies, dance and music, while others consume all the wrong stuff and go berserk. They create a ruckus and are a public nuisance. Some dwell on the spiritual aspect, leading to introspection and self-improvement.

Well! Enjoy the fun and dance; gorge on the goodies to your hearts content but do find a moment to pause and ponder upon the real significance of Holi. Weed out your vices and start afresh like the blossoms of the Spring season! May your Holi be Happy and Holy!

(This article is published in the Hindustan Times today, 26.02.2023. I would be happy if you would share your thoughts in the comments section below.)

[priyastandon]

Om Namaha Shivaya

MahaShivaratri - The grand night of Shiva falls on Feb 18, 2023. Just as OM is the verbal form of the Nirakara Paramatma, the lingam is His visual form.  

(I painted the Ardhnarishwar above a few years ago.) 

Shiva is the Adi-Guru or Adi-Yogi because he first taught Yoga to Parvati. The 14th day of the Krishnapaksh (waning moon) every month, is Shivaratri. The Shivaratri in the month of Phalgun (Feb-March) before VasantRitu (spring) is called MahaShivaratri.

The Moon is the presiding deity of the mind. The moon is reduced to its minimum on Shivaratri. If one spends MahaShivaratri in meditation, it is easy to conquer the mind because it is already subdued. Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, “To understand your true nature, you must do three things: Bend the body, Mend the senses and End the mind. ‘Bend the body’ is to not allow the ego to develop within you. Perform all duties sincerely with humility. ‘Mend the senses’ requires you to examine how your senses behave; whether they are tending to go astray, and correcting and restraining them appropriately when they do so. ‘End the mind’ requires you to quieten the vagaries of your mind.”  

Siva is worshipped with the trifoliate (triple leafed) Bilwa, signifying that He is immanent in the three worlds, in the past, present and future and in the triune Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Maheshwara (destroyer). Being Bholenath, Shiva is pleased by the humble Bilva leaves. Anyone can afford to offer it!

The symbolism around Shiva is fascinating. As Chandrashekhara, Shiva has the crescent moon on his forehead. As Trinetradhaari he has fire on his forehead as His third eye. The Ganga flows from His matted locks, making Him Gangadhara. Fire, water and the cool, calm Moon co-exist here!

Nandi eternally looks at Shiva. One cannot cross the clear space between the Shivlingam and Nandi. Nandi represents each of us; symbolising that one pointed devotion is the only way to attain Him.

It is said that Shiva first performed the TandavaNritya on MahaShivaratri. Shiva and Parvati got married on this day. If there is a couple that is perfect in this world and beyond it, it’s Parvati and Shiva! They are so much a part of each other that together, they are called Ardhanarishwar.

His Adi Kutumbakam (earliest family) symbolises ‘Unity in Diversity’. Shiva wears a tiger skin showing fearlessness. His body is smeared with ash denoting that everything is temporary. His Trishul represents the power of knowledge, desire and implementation. He became Neelkantha (blue throated) because He drank poison. He lives in the burial ground showing that this is where everyone’s Earthly sojourn ends. Shiva’s begging bowl teaches that renunciation, detachment and indifference to good fortune or bad, are the paths to attain Him.

Parvati is Adi Shakti. She is the most beautiful woman and wears beautiful garments and jewellery. This too is in stark contrast with Shiva. Yet they are the perfect couple!

Shiva rides on Nandi, the bull. Parvati rides on a lion. Their son Ganesha is fat with an elephant head and rides a mouse. Their elder son Kartikeya is thin and rides a peacock. Snakes wrapped around Shiva’s neck and limbs show that ego and vices are to be kept under control. The bull and lion are arch enemies; the peacock, mouse and snakes are rivals, but with Shiva as the head of the family, everyone lives in harmony. This symbolises that family members may have different personalities, opinions and preferences, but acceptance leads to harmony!

Shivoham!!! ‘I am Shiva; Shiva am I’ is the exclamation of realisation of the Truth in the moment of illumination. Everyone is Shiva-swarupa (embodiment of Shiva); for without Shiva, everyone is mere Shava (corpse).

Holy days like MahaShivaratri should be spent in contemplation of this Truth to realise the Divinity within! The purpose of life is to live and die in a way that rebirth doesn’t happen.

This article is published is HT on 12.02.2023.

Dear friend, If you would like to share your thoughts about this, do reach out to me through the comments section below.

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The joy of Motherhood

When I see a young mother giving her all for her baby, I remember the oft quoted saying, “God could not be everywhere, so He made mothers!”

Motherhood makes a woman complete! Looking at a new-born’s delicate and fragile limbs, the immaculate formation of organs, both visible and invisible, makes one wonder at the miraculous way God creates a foetus.

Certain traditions around childbirth in our culture, seem to be weird and baseless, but are they? The women of yore insisted on observing a period of rest after childbirth. It was called Sutak. Were these just old wives’ tales or were they scientific? Every tradition was based on sound knowledge!

Motherhood starts with conception and it never really ends. Having carried a foetus in her womb, a woman experiences the miracle of a new life growing inside her. From the time of conception to that of delivery, the journey is punctuated with emotions. The mother-child bond starts even before childbirth.

Whether a woman delivers through natural labour or by C-section, her body goes through a lot, both physically as well as emotionally. Each one of us has been born this way but we tend to forget what mothers go through during pregnancy and childbirth.

The immunity of the mother-child duo is very low after the delivery. It is the mother’s milk that builds immunity in the child. It takes about ten days for the child to develop immunity. So it is prescribed that there be Havan and Puja on the eleventh or thirteenth day before meeting relatives etc. Before that, the child is too fragile and should not be exposed to other people. Only the parents of the new born and other immediate caregivers should be allowed to touch the child. All of this is very scientific. Covid has taught the world, the importance of not touching strangers and the possibilities of cross infections.

The mother of the child is restricted from entering the kitchen. This is purely because she needs to rest. If she gets the luxury of rest, she recuperates well.

The rest period, varies for women from different strata of society. Women from the Brahmin community were prescribed rest for 10 days, Kshatriya women for 20 days, Vaishya women for 30 days and Shudra women for 40 days. This was purely because of the rich or not-so-rich diet available to them as well as the work they were expected to return to. Their bodies needed these varied periods of time to recover enough to resume their stream of work. This was carefully thought out to prepare each woman to return to the physical labour her lifestyle entailed.  

The mental health of the child is majorly dependent on the mental state of the mother. That is why it’s important to maintain a happy state of mind during pregnancy as well as during nursing. The pregnant girl was encouraged to spend time in prayers, have positive thoughts and read the scriptures. She was encouraged to sing to the child, for bonding to happen.

Our ancients knew about the herbs that help increase lactation. Nursing the child is easier when the mother takes a good diet and does not have household chores or professional responsibilities to attend to. Mother’s milk is a flow of emotions. The more the mother cuddles and cares for the baby, the better she is able to nurse. Emotions like anxiety, stress and sadness decrease the flow of breast milk. These emotions are felt by the baby too. So the woman was advised to abstain from going to places where there was sadness or a death had occurred.

The traditional Panjeeri that contains medicinal herbs, is any day better than any multivitamins to regain strength postpartum.

Let us collect this precious knowledge from our elders and pass it on to our children … so that it is preserved for posterity!

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Bask in the Sun’s benevolence upwards and onwards

Benevolent Sankranti

Most of the festivals we celebrate are calculated in accordance with the Lunar calendar. Hence their dates are not fixed. However the Makar Sankranti festival is celebrated as per the Solar calendar and falls on January 14/15 every year. We offer obeisance to the Sun on Makar Sankranti. Why is that so? It seems that when man sought to find proof of God, he found it in the Sun. The Sun is said to be a Pratyaksh Devta because we can see it and feel its warmth and energy. We chant the Gayatri Mantra while praying on Makar Sankranti. Emulating the Sun’s benevolence towards all, we donate food, clothes, milk etc. The Sun doesn’t emit light for itself, plants don’t bear fruit for themselves … let us follow suit!

The Sun provides sustenance to all forms of life. It provides energy to plants for  photosynthesis. We get our food from the plants. So the Sun is an inexhaustible powerhouse of abundance and energy for all forms of life.

Makar Sankranti is considered most auspicious as it marks the upward movement of the Sun away from the Tropic of Capricorn; from the Southern Hemisphere, towards the Northern Hemisphere. It is also called Uttarayan i.e. the Sun moving towards Uttar Disha (North direction). It marks the entry of the Sun into Makar-Rashi i.e. Capricorn. This being the harvest festival in many states, the farmers celebrate their new crops and offer them to the Gods as thanksgiving and also share them with each other.

Makar Sankranti is also called Maghi, Bihu, Pongal, Shishur Saenkraat, Suggi Habba, etc. 

The celebrations vary slightly from state to state all over India. But they centre around prayers, feasting, dancing and singing. In the North, Makar Sankranti day is the day next after Lohri. We usually consume a lot of Til, Bhugga, Peanuts and Gacchak on Lohri as we huddle around a bonfire, sing and dance with family and friends. My mother would always make Chane ki dal ki khichdi and serve it with curd for breakfast on Maghi day. Til-Bhugga etc. generate a lot of heat in the body. And khichdi acts as a coolant thereafter!

This year being the International year of Millets, you can experiment with Bajre (pearl millet) ki khichdi which is definitely the yummiest khichdi in the world! Temper it with hot ghee and red chilli powder and have it with curd! Delicious!

In the run up to Makar Sankranti kite flying is another tradition. Besides the fun in flying kites, it compulsorily exposes us to the Sun. Having stayed indoors in the cold, foggy days of the North Indian winter, kite flying on a sunny Sankranti day is like applying balm on a wound! In the garb of culture and tradition, our health is also taken care of!

The best explanation of the word Lohri is Lo-Hari (Take Lord!), which translates to a prayer written by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, “Oh Lord! Take my Love and let it flow in fullness of devotion to Thee. Oh Lord! Take my hands and let them work incessantly for Thee. Oh Lord! Take my Soul and let it be merged in One with Thee. Oh Lord! Take my mind and thoughts, and let them be in tune with Thee. Oh Lord! Take my everything and let me be an Instrument for Thee.”

Our culture is designed such that after every few days/months there is a festival that brings an opportunity to celebrate life as well as thank God for His bounties and contemplate on the purpose of our Earthly sojourn.

The North is considered to be the direction of everything auspicious, so we celebrate the Sun journeying towards the North. Moving northwards means moving towards positive thoughts, good deeds etc. If man too starts moving towards thoughts of God, it amounts to the same thing. The real northward journey happens inside us!

What do you think? 

This article is published in Hindustan Times on 15.01.2023.

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Education, the Khajuraho way

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION THE KHAJURAHO WAY

We recently had a visual treat at the Khajuraho temples. Our guide decoded the mesmerising carvings on the outer wall of the Vishnu Temple. The bottom most row signified the Earth and the ones above it water, fire, space and air; thus documenting that the five elements are the basis of everything in the material world.

The journey of humans is from nothing to nothing. When we start our journey as a speck in the mother’s womb we start from nothing and when we complete our journey we become ash, which is nothing.

One of the sculptures on the outer wall signified how the ovum was fertilised in the womb. The symbolic representation of the sperm, the ovaries and fallopian tubes left me astounded. In an era where there were no X-rays, ultra sounds etc; the internal anatomy of the reproductive system was carved and documented for posterity. Today we talk of Inclusive Education, where teaching content is in pictures or models for visual learners and special children who learn only by seeing. What could be a better way of explaining than etching it in stone!

Some sculptures illustrated the importance of Yoga to maintain physical health, because unless one is physically fit, one cannot procreate nor indulge in spiritual practices to attain Nirvana.

The union of the male and female is the way given by God for the continuity of creation. What left me awestruck was the sublimity portrayed in the expressions of those indulging for the purpose of marital fulfilment and in contrast, the animalistic expressions on the faces of those indulging for lust. Having gone through the process of procreation and having experienced life in all its facets, there is a realisation of the futility of it all and the understanding that all this leads to nothing! It is important that man experiences Dharma, Arth and Kama before he attains Moksha!

The outer walls had sculptures depicting the various facets of life. There were scenes of Gurukul, games, cooking, marriage processions etc. One sculpture showed a man’s body with the face of a demon devouring another man while being attacked in the back by a third man showing that if a man behaves like a demon, he ends up devouring others and if he fights his demonic tendencies, he overcomes his bestiality and comes out victorious. The figure at the topmost level showed a man sitting in lotus pose, meditating and experiencing bliss (nothingness)!

Inside the Garbha greha was an idol of Lord Vishnu facing East. The angle of inclination of the windows in the North and South ensured that the Idol was visible with the same amount of natural light, from sunrise to sunset. The extensive and intelligent use of Vastu Shilpa Sashtra was fantastic.

Contrary to hear-say, the Khajuraho temples are not centred on illustrating erotica. They are an authentic documentation of how advanced our society was in the 9-10th centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, definitely worth seeing!

What do you say?

This article is published as the middle piece in The Tribune on 10.01.2023.

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Stay rooted: Embrace the new, Nurture the old

Strong Roots and Solid Trunks! Happy New year! Today brings opportunities to introspect, reflect and review old resolutions and make new ones.

Just as the New Year stems from the old, everything new in life stems from something in the past. The roots are always older than the trunk of the tree. So too all that we are as a society is rooted in our past. Indian culture and traditions are one of the oldest in the world. The science and study behind them never fails to amaze!

In a new year message to a devotee, Sri Sathya Sai Baba said, “Endowed with long life and sound health, surrounded by children, grandchildren and friends, keep on imbibing joy through devotion and wisdom. I bless that your days be spent in the service of Sarveshwara, the Lord of All. Spend your life in abundant peace and happiness.” The joint family system wherein we live with elders, children and grandchildren is a great training ground for imbibing values such as tolerance, harmony, mutual respect, empathy, sharing, caring etc. It is a great support system where everyone stands together in good times and bad. A family that eats together, prays together; stays together. Learning to co-exist, while deepening your devotion and acquiring wisdom, leads to abundant peace and happiness. Blessed are those children who grow up in close proximity to grandparents, for they beget boundless love. Here too it's the roots of the family (grandparents and elders) that support and nourish the youngsters. It’s good to make new friends, but it’s wise to keep the old ones. It’s good to plant new trees, but it’s wise to nurture the old ones. While I am all for modernisation and new technology, I would any day vote for the traditional over the modern, on subjects like family, food habits, values, yoga, meditation etc. I was recently gifted a beautiful plastic Toran as part of a gift hamper on Diwali. Traditionally a Toran is made of fresh Mango and/or Peepal leaves strung together and tied across doorways in our homes on auspicious occasions. The reason for tying them was that mango and peepal leaves emit oxygen for 3-4 days even after they are plucked. During festivities or gatherings in the house, there are more people than usual. The leaves ensured an influx of oxygen so that there was no suffocation! How could a plastic toran do even a fraction of that noble job?

Interestingly, my granddaughter came home from school, holding a Toran. "I made this!" she said, beaming from ear to ear. I saw leaves cut out of white chart paper; coloured with green crayons with glitter added for effect. They were pasted onto a ribbon to make a Toran. It was a great initiative by the teacher to introduce the concept of Toran to the children. Today they were taught to make it with paper and crayons; tomorrow they would make it the real way! Well done! Plastic decorations are pollutants, be they those used for Christmas decor or Torans or any other. On a similar note, Millets that have been our native food till the 1960’s, have suddenly become ‘super foods’ and are being appreciated the world over. So much so that the year 2023 shall be celebrated as the International Year of Millets! So let us value the treasures of Indian culture and pass them on to the next generation. Just like the Covid vaccine produced by India is proving to be the best; far better than those produced by other countries, we have the best of everything.

Let's step into the New Year and take the learnings from the yesteryears along. Our future lies before us, like a sheet of driven snow. Let’s be careful how we tread it, for every mark will show! Our choices shall determine whether the times to come, will be Happy/Happier/Happiest!

This article is published in Hindustan Times today 1.1.2023. It would be my pleasure to know your thoughts on this. Do leave a comment in the space below :)

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Santa with a difference!

When Ganesha played secret Santa

Who is Santa Claus? Santa is a kind, fat, jovial old man who brings gifts for children on Christmas. Little children are enamoured by the mascot dressed in red and white who comes riding on a sleigh. Parents pamper their children with gifts in the guise of Santa. When children grow up, they realise that Santa is not a real guy. The moment of realisation for a child may be heart breaking; the make-believe world may be shattered but soon there is a moment of awakening and gratitude towards those who have played Santa and been the harbingers of joy. And suddenly there is an eagerness to become the magical gift-giving Santa, because there is great joy in giving! Truly all grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins etc. who bring gifts for children are Santa in their own right.

The spirit of giving, is one of the most beautiful traits of our persona. We may give gifts, money, knowledge, love, care or even just time! Sharing happiness, increases it manifold; sharing grief decreases it aplenty. Now that the Christmas break is here, many of those who have empty nests, are waiting for the homecoming of their NRI off springs. These NRIs come home loaded with gifts for aged parents and siblings. They are verily our version of Santa Claus!

Last year our children along with cousins and friends, played their own version of the popular game ‘Secret Santa’; and renamed it ‘Secret Ganesha’! Well! Why not? In this age of globalisation, when Haldi wala doodh is going places as Turmeric Latte and the humble Golgappe have reached Five star hotel menus as ‘Puffed semolina crispies filled with spicy potatoes and chickpeas, filled with shots of tangy flavoured water’; why can’t we innovate and have a Secret Ganesha?

Well! I was impressed by the thoughtful gifts that popped out of Secret Ganesha’s bag of goodies. There were warm socks, mittens, caps, chocolates, cosy pyjamas etc. What followed was a quiz about the names of Ganesha, his parents, siblings, the reasons for his long nose and big tummy … And everyone had a riot! The evening was spent chatting about Ganesha and Santa! I smiled … Bhagwan Baba always said that it’s important to respect all religions while being firmly rooted in our own.

He said, “There is only one religion, the religion of Love; There is only one language, the language of the Heart; There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity; There is only one God, He is Omnipresent.”

One of the NRI children said that she’d never had so much fun before … Secret Ganesha was a superhit! Her wistful expression as she hugged her cousins, coupled with tears of longing in her mother’s eyes, reminded me of a couplet,

“Lahu ke thae jo rishte, unhe chod ke aa gaye; 

sukoon aankhon ke saamne tha, mooh mod ke aagaye. 

Khazaane lut rahe thae, maa baap ki chaanv mein; 

hum kaudiyon ki khaatir, ghar chod ke aagaye!”

Starting this December, besides the usual NRIs trotting homewards, India will be hosting the G-20. Nearly 200 meetings of ministers and officials of the G-20 nations at 50 plus venues shall bring opportunities to showcase the cultural milieu of the country. G-20 delegates shall be gifted local products, so local handicrafts and products will be extensively promoted. The theme of India’s G-20 Presidency is, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth · One Family · One Future’. And that resonates with what Baba says - one religion, one language, one caste … and all this because we belong to the family of one God!

Chandigarh too shall be spruced up to host delegates from over 40 countries for two meetings of G-20 in January and March 2023. The Sukhna Lake and Rock Garden shall host cultural events. The city beautiful shall also get its share from Secret Ganesha’s bag of goodies!

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this please leave a message in the comments section below. I would be happy to see it!

(This article is published in The Hindustan Times today, 18.12.2022.)

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Be aware of all that life offers

Sitting in the rear seat of my car, I was watching a video on my phone while on the way to Panchkula from Chandigarh to attend a friend’s daughter’s Mehendi. Thereafter, I opened my Gmail to clear some pending emails. I was so immersed in the virtual world in my phone that I realised that we had reached only when the driver braked and awkwardly cleared his throat. Oops!

One of my friends asked, “Did you see the beautiful flower decoration at the roundabout?” I was blank. I had seen only my screen. Someone said, “There was a terrible traffic jam around Kala Gram.” Another friend said, “I saw that on google maps, so we came from the IT Park road.” She asked me, “Which route did you take?” I was blank. I just knew that I had cleared most of my emails and WhatsApp messages.

Oh Lord! The phone is the culprit … it takes up all my time! Just then my phone rang! Haha! Now the phone was my saviour! I quickly took the call, while signalling an apology to the lady to say that I really needed to take that call (and side track the question to which I had no answer).

The next day, I sat attending the prayer meet of a friend’s husband who had died at the age of 58 due to a series of heart attacks. It seems there was no history of any ailment whatsoever. It dawned on me that for the soul departed, the journey had suddenly come to an end. Perhaps he was not prepared for it, just as I was not prepared, to reach my friend’s house so quickly!

Truly, life is going by faster than I had envisaged. I must learn to be more aware of all that life offers, lest I have to live in regret. There is more to a drive than watching videos or clearing emails. As I sat musing over all this, I realised that in my effort to do so many things I was missing out on experiencing the beauty of life and being thankful. I was oblivious of the pains and sorrows of those lesser fortunate. Life is full of happiness and pain … if only we are aware of it!

Life is a fusion of good and bad, happiness and sadness, beauty and despair and much more … But to be aware, alive and to live each moment fully is important. Let us live in complete awareness and gratitude. Let not the journey come to an end and catch us unawares. Let us be aware of life, lest we have to be beware of life! 

And just like that, this year too is coming to an end. It may be a time to make new resolutions but it’s also a time to reflect upon those made earlier and look into how many are done and how many are still lying hanging midway!

Dear friend, if you would like to share your thoughts on this, do leave a message below. Thank you! 

(A slightly concise version of this piece is published as the ‘Middle’ on the Opinion page in The Tribune today, 13.12.2022.)

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Celebrating the Song Celestial in today’s world

Did you ever ask yourself what the focus of your life is? What do you want? We may focus on and prioritise work, earnings, fun, travel, love, philanthropy, service, family, children, friends etc. Some focus on God. Their world revolves around Him.

Before the Mahabharata war, Arjuna and Duryodhana went to Krishna to seek His help.

Krishna was asleep. When He woke up, He first saw Arjuna, sitting at His feet. Arjuna got up and offered Namaskar. Duryodhana was sitting behind His head. Krishna asked Arjuna, "What do you want?" Duryodhana interrupted saying, "Krishna, I came before Arjuna." Krishna said, "I am not going to wield any weapon in the war. One of you can have my army comprising of 10 million soldiers and the other can have Me." Duryodhana opted for the army. Arjuna said, "Krishna, I do not need anything except You." Well! We all know how the Mahabharata war ended.

In one of His discourses, Sri Sathya Sai Baba said, “The Pandavas placed God first, the world next and the ‘I’ last. Hence they were successful. The Kauravas placed ‘I’ (the ego) first, the world next and God last. Hence, they lost everything!”

The Kauravas focussed their thoughts, words and deeds on themselves. Second place in their lives was given to others and God was given a poor third. The Pandavas stood firmly for Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love and Nonviolence. They had Krishna as the focus of their lives. They kept others at the second place and themselves last. Krishna was their everything, so Krishna too stood by them like a rock.

Coming to today … What is the mindset of people today? What does the media propagate? What is the focus of our lives? All the focus is being directed to, ‘I, me and myself!’ We are encouraged to think like, “What are you doing for yourself?”, “Find time for yourself!”, “Get away and pamper yourself!” “You are the most important …” Everything is about self-gratification! Does this resonate with the Kaurava mindset or the Pandava mindset?

There can be no circle without a centre. Ask yourself this – “What/Who is the centre of your circle?”

The Bhagawad Gita was delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Krishna said, “Karmanye Vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadhachana.” Meaning- Perform your duty without any expectation. He goaded him to prioritise justice over injustice, dharma over adharma, detachment over attachment. The Lord chose Arjuna as a medium to give the message of the Gita to all of humanity. Thousands of years later, the Bhagwad Gita has still not lost its profundity. Strangely it is more relevant now, than ever before, because of rampant greed and dereliction of duties. December 3, was Gita Jayanti. It is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna sang the Song Celestial to Arjuna.

Practically speaking, if there is any one shloka of the 700 shlokas in the 18 chapters, of the Bhagwad Gita or thought in any sacred text of your religion that appeals to you; and if you can make it your life mantra, that’s enough!

And by the way, do you know what the essence of the Gita is? The first stanza of the Gita says, ‘dharma-kṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśhchaiva kimakurvata sañjaya’

The last stanza of the Gita says, ‘yatra yogeśhvaraḥ kṛiṣhṇo yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ tatra śhrīr vijayo bhūtir dhruvā nītir matir mama’

When you combine the last word of the last stanza, with the first word of the first stanza, what do you get? Mama Dharma! Mama Dharma is the real essence of the Gita! Leading our life while feeling God’s presence and performing our Dharma, wherever and whatever we may be, without any expectation of returns, is performing Mama Dharma. And that is what the Gita is all about. So put God in the centre of the circle of your life and see the magic unfurl!

Look forward to your views on this in the comments section below. 

(A slightly concise version of this article is published in Hindustan Times today 4.12.2022.)

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Divinity Blossoms in Your Heart

As a little girl, I remember sitting amongst a huge crowd at the Ridge in Shimla, in March 1973. A majestic persona called, ‘Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’, sat at the edge of the stage, as some devotees sang bhajans.

Later we went to Woodville where Baba was staying. It was on that day that I sold myself to Him, for the love He drenched me with. Strangely, I still remember that He seemed to be gliding on air; not walking on the grass. His intense eyes surfed the deepest recesses of my heart, up to the past lives of my soul. The experience was so intense and overwhelming that I could not control the tears streaming down my cheeks.

For days, ‘that form’ in the ochre robe, kept whirling and twirling in my mind’s eye. I could not get Him out of my mind. Singing His bhajans gave me a strange comfort of being connected to Him. It was in 1979 that we went to Puttaparthi, a tiny hamlet in Andhra Pradesh. We were lucky to get what was called an ‘interview’ where Baba met us in a small room, in the temple complex. The gush of emotions I felt while we were sitting in His overpowering, all-encompassing presence in that small room, is unexplainable in words. He showered the love of a thousand mothers on us. It was a home coming. He made us feel that we belonged to Him, and He belonged to us. Truly the most precious legacy my parents gave me is that they connected me with Bhagwan Baba.

I lost my physical parents a few years ago. But I have an eternal mother and father in Bhagwan Baba. He said that Sai or S-ayee means Sab ki Mata; and Baba means Pita. So, Sai Baba means, Sab ke Mata Pita. I go to Puttaparthi like it’s my Maika (my parental home). It’s a great comfort to belong to the Lord. He is the eternal keeper of this pilgrim’s progress. We as a family are indeed blessed to have experienced the divinity of Sai as He walked the Earth.

In the earlier years Baba would say, “My life is my message.” Towards of the end of His Earthly sojourn He started to tell His devotees, “Your life is my message.” That is a huge responsibility for us. He always addressed us as Prema Swarooplaras (Embodiments of love) or Divya Atmaswaroopas (Embodiments of Divinity). We strive to come up to the terms of endearment He used for us.

It is Bhagwan Baba’s birthday on 23rd of November. When devotees would wish Him, “Happy Birthday Baba!”, He would say, “My birthday is the date when divinity blossoms in your heart.”

Devotees from the world over still throng Puttaparthi on His birthday. No invites were/are ever sent out, but His love remains to be an open-ended and eternal invite for a home-coming! And it shall always be!

Dear friends, let me know your thoughts about this … would be happy to hear from you :)

(This piece has been published in The Tribune as the middle piece on 21.11.2022.)

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The Transformation of the Human Heart

The purpose of life is to find your purpose and then live it. At some time or the other, every human wonders, “Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here?” Questions such like, were answered simply, by Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He explained that every human is an infinitesimal part of God. Each Atma (soul) is a part of the Supreme soul (Param Atma). Someone asked Baba, “Are you God?” He replied, “Yes! And so are you! The difference is that I know it, but you don’t.”

Baba said, “When the sun rises and shines, Not all the lotus buds in the lakes and ponds bloom, Only those that are ready, do. The rest have to bide their time, But all are destined to bloom, All have to fulfill that destiny. There is no need to despair.”

Just as our children came from us; we came from our parents; our parents came from our grandparents; who came from our great grandparents … and so on till the family tree traces back to the first man created by God. So, we are children of God! The realisation is overwhelming, empowering yet humbling at the same time.

Baba explained the purpose of creation as, Ekohumbahushyaam! (I am one; I will be many!) God separated Himself, from Himself; so that He could love Himself! The Lord created man in His own likeness, so that He could love him!

Isn’t this exactly why we procreate? We have children and we love them. When they learn to walk, we feel like a part of us is walking outside our body. And that is how God feels too. He made us, we are His children; we are a part of Him! When our children do something nice, we feel happy and proud. So too, knowing that I am the child of God, I yearn to make Him proud of me, so I strive to be the best version of myself.

Humans are the jewel in the crown of God’s creation. Humans are blessed with the faculties of knowledge and the power of discrimination between right and wrong. Baba explained that life is a journey from me to Him. He explained that devotion is not a uniform worn on festivals or special occasions. Devotion is a way of life that happens only with the transformation of the human heart.

One of the most powerful teachings of Baba that is very dear to my heart is, ‘If you do everything with the awareness that God is listening to me, watching me all the time; He is privy to my innermost thoughts, then you shall never do anything wrong!’ This is not just living in the awareness of God; this is living with God!

The Sri Sathya Sai University at Puttaparthi offers free education, from school to post-grad level. Our children studied there for two years each. Two State of the Art Hospitals, offer free treatment to the underprivileged, who Baba referred to as Daridra-Narayans. These hospitals do not have a billing section! Some of the best doctors of the world, offer seva here. The Sai Ganga water project supplies clean drinking water to a few hundred villages.

Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini is creating value based educational content for school children and sharing it on the PM’s DIKSHA portal free of cost. We have 1500+ professionals the world over, including myself, offering seva in this project. We have uploaded 7700+ assets on DIKSHA and have 40,000 assets on our website. All volunteers contributing are highly qualified professionals, educators, technologists, trainers and experts from different fields who feel blessed to serve. Baba inspired them to render free service; selflessly for the lesser fortunate.

As we gear up for Baba’s birthday on November 23, let’s appreciate His biggest miracle… the transformation of the human heart! I would love to know your thoughts about this. Do leave a message for me in the comments section below!

A slightly concise version of this article is published in Hindustan Times, HT Chandigarh on 20.11.2022.

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The paradox of Indian ethos & Western education

Aaj Kal Ke Bachhe A conversation between mothers and teachers of school children recently caught my ears, “Aaj kal ke bachhe bhi naa; sunte kahaan hain …” Everyone had woes to share and I pondered yet again on what had gone wrong with our upbringing. We come from a culture that emulates, “Maathru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Aacharya Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo Bhava!” Why then should values like obedience, respect, humility, discipline, empathy, gratitude etc. be alien to our youth?

When I got home, our two-year-old granddaughter was lisping to the age old Nursery Rhymes, ‘Old MacDonald had a farm, Eeeya eeya oh!’ and ‘Rain, Rain go away, come again another day …’ According to Google, the poem ‘Rain, Rain go away …’ dates back to the 17 th century. I guess the poet lived in bleary, cloudy and cold weather so it was a good idea to sing, “Rain, Rain go away; Come again another day …” But in India; especially in Central and Southern India where the weather ranges from hot, hotter to hottest, we really value rain. Our agriculture depends on it. When the God-loving Indian farmer prays to Varun Devta to send the elixir of rain for the thirsty soil so that he can sow the seeds; and his son in school sings, “Rain, Rain go away …,” wouldn’t the paradox confuse the Gods? Do children of kindergarten even understand the poems we teach them? Of course they do not! We teach them to learn by rote with the help of Rhymes ’n’ Rhythm. So how about training them to phonate something that is verily Indian and meaningful; like the cosmic, all-encompassing Om or the Gayatri Mantra? We just need to tutor them to recite it. Understanding comes much later … just as in Nursery Rhymes! 

The ancient Indians knew that the sound of creation is OM. It can be heard reverberating within us by plugging the ears with the fingers and closing our eyes, in silence. Could we teach our school going children to tune-in to this cosmic sound of the Universe? It would teach them to recognize the underlying unity in the diversity of creation!

Enough research has been done on the benefits of reciting the Gayatri Mantra. The Gayatri, amplifies our intellect, unlocks our intuitive powers and awakens the effulgence of the Sun within us. Chanting it helps develop calmness and concentration. The world recognizes this. Sadly, somewhere in the past years, the mention of God and religion vanished from our education system. I taught our two year old granddaughter to chant the Gayatri Mantra.

Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ, tát savitúr váreṇyaṃ bhárgo devásya dhīmahi, dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt

She would definitely learn the Nursery Rhymes too at school, but I wanted to teach her something that is definitely more valuable. It is heartening to see that the New Education Policy (NEP 2020) talks about the importance of the Human Values of Truth, Peace, Non- violence, Love and Righteous Conduct. It recognises that teaching values to children is likely to help overcome prevailing fanaticism, violence and corruption, exploitation and drug abuse. It identifies that religion is a key source of value generation. The NEP 2020 is all set to remodel all curriculum and pedagogy such that it is firmly rooted in the Indian ethos, culture and traditions, taking stock of ancient and contemporary knowledge. Resultantly the youth of our country shall benefit from the precious Indian knowledge that is our invaluable legacy. True education must equip children with life skills, human values, character and wisdom; it should not just enable them to earn. The revised focus is much needed and welcome!

And who knows, maybe the morning prayers in our schools get replaced by the effulgent Gayatri! And soon we shall hear, “Aaj kal ke bachhe! Kya baat hai!” And we shall celebrate our children everyday ... not just on Children’s Day!

This piece is published in Hindustan Times today 06.11.22. 

If you would like to share your thoughts do leave a message for me down below. I would be happy to hear from you. 

[priyastandon]

De-clutter your home, inner-self this Diwali

What does Diwali mean to you?

Deepawali, the festival of lights, could mean prayers, rituals, shopping, gifting, gorging on sweets and savouries, cleaning and decorating the house, decking up in Indian festive wear or swanky westerns, card parties, drinking, gambling, business opportunities, sales, firecrackers, lights etc. Well! To each his own!

Most people start cleaning every nook and cranny of their house, several days prior to Diwali. This means turning out all the forgotten crockery, linen, clothes, blankets, books, etc. and clearing the closets, ceilings, carpets and corners of dust, mites, cobwebs etc. Making Rangoli and dainty Lakshmi Charan and putting Diyas at the entrance is the fun part! My mother said that on Diwali, Goddess Lakshmi visits only those homes that are clean, sparkling and decorated. With childlike innocence we followed her words to the last T. I realise now, how that ensured that every inch of the house got cleaned at least once annually. Leaking roofs, moisture in cupboards causing damage to delicate clothes, quilts etc. caused by the monsoon get fixed during Diwali cleaning! Traditional oil lamps cause insects to die and cleanse the atmosphere! 

The first day of festivities is Dhanteras. On this day Lord Dhanwantri emerged holding a kalash during the Samudra Manthan. It is believed auspicious to buy metal utensils on Dhanteras. According to people’s pockets they buy gold, silver, copper or clay utensils. Some stretch metal purchases to ornaments and vehicles too. Resultantly the entire economy of the country takes a turn and even the smallest trader earns an extra buck!

The second day is Narak Chaturdashi. It’s the day Lord Krishna annihilated the demon Narakasura. Popular belief encourages one to take an oil massage to overcome the fatigue of Diwali preparations. Well! No harm in a massage to pamper yourself!

The third day is ‘Diwali’ on Amavasya. Lord Ganesha is propitiated for heralding in auspiciousness. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped as the harbinger of wealth and prosperity. The Ramayana documents that Lord Rama returned after fourteen years of exile, to Ayodhya along with Sitaji and Lakshmanji on this day. Being a no moon night, people illumined the pathway to Ayodhya with oil lamps to welcome their beloved Lord. They distributed sweets out of sheer happiness at His return. The jubilation led to song, dance and festivity. There were obviously no crackers in that era.

The fourth day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja and Vishwakarma Day. Lord Krishna had lifted the Govardhan Parvat on His little finger to shelter the cowherds, milkmaids, cattle etc. from the deluge caused by Indra. Craftsmen worship the divine architect Vishwakarma and their tools on this day. I think of it as a day to rest after the hectic activities of Diwali.

The fifth day is Bhai Dooj. Lord Yama had visited his sister Yamuna with gifts on this day. The tradition continues with brothers visiting their sister’s homes with gifts. Perhaps with so much happening on Diwali, it’s hard for men to visit their married sisters, so the day has been earmarked!

Well! Whatever Diwali means to you, do look deeper into the soul of the festivities. While cleaning your home to invite the Gods, sweep out greed and pettiness. While decorating your home, embellish your persona with contentment and devotion. When you binge on goodies, spare some for the lesser fortunate; they would value them! Cleaning our persona is paramount because the Lord resides only in sparkling pure hearts. When you light diyas, light up your face with a smile and burn your vices and anger. Refrain from crackers and let your eyes do the twinkling. Be kind to the planet!

And when you light a lamp in your mandir, light one in your mann- mandir too, so that whoever you meet, feels the light emanating from the temple of your heart. Emerge victorious over your negativities and radiate light and love. That is the true meaning of Diwali!

A slightly concise version of this piece has been published in HT on 23.10.2022.

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The legend of Veerawati, magic of Karwa Chauth

With Karwa Chauth round the corner, the excitement of dressing up yet again like a bride for every Suhagan is palpable. 

The Karwa story tells of Veerawati, who had seven brothers. She fainted of hunger on Karwa day. Her brothers lit a fire behind a tree and told her that the light therefrom was moonlight. She broke her fast and while she ate, her husband fell unconscious; his body riddled with pins and needles. Mother Parvati guided her to fast, pray and keep removing the needles from his body. He came back to consciousness after a year of tender loving care. 

Well! The story is ancient and has probably seen many twists and turns over time. My father interpreted the Karwa story very differently. He said that sometimes words are sharper than arrows and cause immense agony. Often we say nasty things to our spouse; such that the spouse becomes numb with pain. Those arrows need to be removed to normalise the relationship! When someone is emotionally hurt, we need to shower love and care for the wounds to heal. Rather than questioning the Karwa story, wouldn’t it be nice to not nit-pick and just enjoy the festivity? Does anyone raise why’s and what’s about Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Mother’s day, etc.? So why not just get into the groove of Karwa Chauth and drool over the mathi, feni, mithai and namkeens! Mothers and mothers-in-law buy these for the young suhagans in their homes and treat them to a feast before the fast. Eating this high calorie food before dawn, ensures that hunger is abated all day. The men folk and children too, enjoy the treat. The idea behind making this ready-to-eat food available, is that the women who are fasting, are liberated from cooking for that day.

In ancient times, while women would fast, the men would be away at work and sometimes the day would drag. To divert their minds from hunger, women would enjoy decking up and wearing bride-like clothes, bindis, glass bangles, sindoor, bichhue, payal, maang tikka and applying henna! And while the Mehendi was wet, they were absolved from daily chores! For one day they would abstain from cooking, cleaning, spinning the wheel etc. (The Katha narrative says- katti na ateri naa, ghoom charakhra phaerien naa, vaan pail paayeen naa …) They would congregate and pray, listen to the katha and play games; laugh, sing and dance together, till it was time to offer Argh (water) to the Moon and then break the fast. Many young girls question why they should fast for their husbands and why the husbands should not fast for them. Well! I really think, Karwa Chauth is your day to be pampered; why share the fun? Why not enjoy the decking up, mehendi, sargi, games, katha, laughter, song and dance with your girlies? And is it really difficult to fast for a couple of hours after having feasted at dawn? And why miss the fun of bedecking as a bride yet again and the romance of puja on a moonlit night? And isn’t having the first sip of water from your husband’s hands like tasting ambrosia? The ethnicity is enchanting! As for the blessing of the mother-in-law, ‘Akhand Saubhagwati bhav …’, which means that my husband shall live longer than me; I wouldn’t want it the other way, because I don’t know how to live without him. I cherish my husband’s presence the most in my life and am happy to admit it. About fasting; God made women more sacrificing and loving. But these qualities do not make us weak, they make us stronger!

So let’s cherish our Indian customs without undue questioning and appreciate them. And let’s involve the younger generation too sothat these beautiful traditions that bind us as a society, do not perish with us. Happy Karwa Chauth!

Would you like to share your thoughts with me?

(A sligthly concise version of this article has been published in HT on 09.10.2022.)

[priyastandon]

When even less is more

Terminology Analogy 

Some verbal analogies are intriguing. Some decades ago, a job was called Naukari. The earnings of the said ‘Naukar’; the sole breadwinner of the family, were enough to feed a family of nine; hence Nau-kari. It was sufficient for the parents, spouse, children and guests too. Lifestyles were simple. There were no concepts of air conditioning, vacationing abroad, multiple vehicles, branded clothing and footwear, jewels etc. Because less was more! 

Some years hence, the term Chaakari came into common parlance. This was perhaps when the concept of nuclear families and Hum 2, Hamare 2 became popular. The emoluments from Chaa-kari were enough to meet the expenses of a family of four. Nothing less, nothing more! 

As the cost of living escalated, earnings came to be known as Tankha. Tankha was just sufficient for meeting one’s own needs. Hence Tan-kha! It became important for each one to earn. The principle was, ‘To each, his own’. What mattered was, ‘I, me and myself.’ Just this and nothing more! 

Time moved on and Vetan happened. Now earnings were not even enough to feed one self, hence Ve-tan! Sigh! Enter loans and finance schemes. Udhaar! Take Udhaar (loan) and live life king size ... increase your wants, needs and desires. Self-gratification is key! Earn more and spend more!  

Let's zoom into today. It seems people work only to buy themselves a Cell phone and what they earn is called Salary! (Read Cell-ary) They believe in, ‘I earn; I spend!’; ‘My money, My life!’ The world is in the palm of everyone’s hand. Everything is just a click of a button away! Alexa and Siri are at your beck ’n’ call. You have everything but you still want more! Someone said, ‘Cell phones are called Cell phones because they ensure that you stay buried in the Cell (Jail) of your phone!’ 

Sometimes we ask, ‘Kitna Kamaya?’ Kitna Kaam Aaya? God alone knows whether it is enough to satisfy our growing desires … for more and yet more! 

Talking of earnings did you get your Pay check? Well in this age of net banking this is what we do all day … pay and check; pay and check … well if your desires are copious, you have to keep paying because without pay’n (read pain), there is no gain. 

With the consumer market booming, online shopping, discount sales, buy one - get one free offers, brands and bargains, flights and cruises, credit cards and debit cards; for everything we buy, we put our tongue in cheek and say, ‘Just this and nothing more …’ 

But really speaking, does it bog down to, just this and nothing more? Or are we always left wanting for more? Care for a ceiling on desires anyone? 

Arz hai ke farz nibhaao to dua milti hai,

Karz uthaane ki marz ki dawa nahi hoti.

Khudgarz ki to kamaayi mein bhi barkat nahin hoti,

Khudaar hote to Rabb ne bhi rehmat dikhaayi hoti!

Dear friend, your feedback means a lot to me. Do find time to write a message for me in the comments section below. Thank you :)

A slightly concise version of this piece has been published as the ‘Middle’ in The Tribune on 29.09.2022.